Stand-up comedian Kanan Gill

“Comedy fans are ready to laugh at the strangest things”: Stand-up comedian Kanan Gill

Kanan Gill started a career in software engineering, but has found incredible fame in a totally unrelated field. After making his start in stand-up Kanan joined forces with fellow comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath to launch their hugely popular YouTube series reviewing Bollywood films. The hilarious Pretentious Movie Reviews swiftly picked up tens of millions of views on YouTube, and every clip they upload still regularly collects views well into the millions. Kanan has since ventured into Bollywood himself, with a role in Noor starring Sonakshi Sinha.

A comic superstar both on stage and online, Kanan has over 670,000 subscribers and 65 million views on his YouTube channel, 340,000+ followers on Instagram and 818,000 followers on Twitter.

With Teetar, the personal, observational and deeply stupid follow-up to his wildly successful 2017 hour, Kanan juggles thoughts and ideas about everything from Julius Caesar’s death to bands and building societies. You’ll also learn what Teetar means. Tickets are not expected to last long!

 

Indus Age spoke to Kanan on the sidelines of the International Comedy Festival 2019 where he opened up about his popularity, the perks of being a known face, the most hilarious moment and more. Read on:

 

Interviewed by Nidhi Kumari

 

You’ve gained huge popularity and acceptance today, did you expect it, when you started?

It was too thrilling to just do stand up! I don’t think I had the mind space to plot a career graph. I was happy to leave work early and run to open mics, and at the time that felt like enough.

 

 What drove you to this field of stand up comedy? When was the time you decided that you wanted to do this?

I used to be the vocalist of a band for a while and used to enjoy interacting with the audience and writing absurd, funny songs. Someone told me I should do stand up, which I’d been a fan of since I was a child but somehow had never connected the dots myself. Anyway, I promptly forgot about this idea until years later when I was writing software, I saw a sign for an open mic and went in and liked it so much I just kept going back.

 

You have millions of fans who connect with you, what do you think makes the audience identify with your acts?

I think people really like material that resonates with them on an experiential or emotional level. I think you need something like that to convert someone into a fan of comedy. And comedy fans are ready to laugh at the strangest things. For me I think it has been a combination relatability and oddity. I don’t really know.

 

How do you create that charm, coming up with new and unique ideas every time? And what is it that  you have to do to stay relevant?

I don’t know if charm is the right word. Instead of struggling to stay relevant I’ve just decided to do the kind of content that I’d like to see. I think that’s served me well as a guiding principle.

 

To make someone smile and laugh is a very serious business and is extremely difficult, as there are chances of offending someone . What do you have to keep in mind as a comedian?  Also do you think, it curbs creativity?

 

Well, I don’t think anyone really plans to upset or offend someone. Offence is in the mind of the beholder and once words leave your mouth you really have no control over how they’re received. And yes, I think self censorship is detrimental to creativity.

 

 

You are visiting Australia for the International Comedy Festival, is there any special preparation that you’ve done for the show? What’s in store for the audience?

This will be my first visit to Australia! I’m actually really thrilled. I’ve prepared a show to come with and perhaps there I might talk a little bit about my experiences in Australia, but so far I just plan to do my best!

 

In this competitive world of entertainment industry, what do you think sets you apart from the others?

My deviated nasal septum.

 

 

If you had to tell us about the most hilarious moment/s you have had while performing on stage . Your answer would be?

 

Just a little while back I was performing and an audience member wandered on stage and tried to join the show somehow. I don’t know about funny, but it was bizarre and now also a recurring nightmare I have.

 

There might be times when you aren’t in a good mood, still you have to do the show, how do you motivate yourself?

I think you have a responsibility to the people that have bought a ticket to show them a good time and also an opportunity to turn your emotion into something that can provide catharsis for you as a comedian and hopefully also for the audience.

 

What is your advice to aspiring stand up comedian?

Don’t stop.

 

Your Message for the people in Australia?

I’m excited to bring my show to you!

 

 

Some Quick questions :

Who is the last person you think of before going off to sleep at night?

Sadly, probably myself, worrying about my life.

 

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?

I twisted my ankle in spectacular fashion during a game of badminton.

 

A piece of advice someone gave you:

You should always be the best (it was bad advice).

 

What’s the best thing of being a popular face?:

Quick check in at airports sometimes.

 

What is it like to be on the stage as a stand up comedian?:

A moment of bliss/panic.

 

If not a comedian, what else would you have been?:

Well I was a software engineer for a bit, but maybe a musician or a wax statue.

To know more about the show visit: frontiercomedy.com/kanangill